下载辰思小说免费APP
Let\'srustleupsomeflatcactusesan\'corralhim。\'
"TharupontheseyereRoadRunnersturnsinmightydiligent；an\'notmakin\'nomorenoisethanshadows，theygoespokin\'outontheplainsontiltheyfindsaflatcactuswhichisdead；sotheycantearofftheleaveswiththeirbills。DocPeetsan\'mesetsinoursaddlessurveyin\'theirplay；an\'thewaythemRoadRunnersgoesaboutthelaborsoftheirsnakekillin\'impressesusitain\'tthefirstbootcheryofthekindtheyappearsin。Theyshorelydon\'tneednosoopervisin\'。
"Oneaftertheother，Jiman\'Billteetersup，allsilent，withaflatcactusleafintheirbeaks，an\'startstofenceintherattlesnakewith\'em。Theybuildsacorralofcactusallabouthim，whichthesameismebbysix-footacross。Themengineerin\'featstakesJiman\'Billtwentyminutes。Buttheycompletes\'em；an\'
thar\'stherattlesnake，plumbsurrounded。
"Theseyerecactuses，asyoumostlikelysaveys，isthornynolimit；
an\'thespikesisthatsharp，needlesisfutileto\'em。Jiman\'Billknowstherattlesnakecan\'tcrossthisthornycorral。
"Hedon\'tlookitnone，butfromthewayheplayshishand，Itakesitarattlesnakeissensitivean\'easyhurtonderthechin。
"An\'it\'splaintomean\'PeetsthemRoadRunnersisawareofsaidweaknessesofrattlesnakes，an\'isbankin\'theirplaytharon。We-
allsfiggers，lookin\'on，thatJiman\'Billaimstoputtherattlesnakeinprison；leavehimcaptivethata-wayinacactuscalaboose。Butwedon\'tsizeupJiman\'Billaccurateatall。Themtwofowlsisshorelyprofound。
"Nosooneristhecorralmade，thanJiman\'Bill，withoutawordofwarnin\'，opensupawarjig\'roundtheoutside；flappin\'theirpinionsan\'screechin\'likesquaws。Nacherallytherattlesnakewakesup。ThesightofthemtwoRoadRunners，Jiman\'Bill，cussin\'an\'
swearin\'athim，an\'carryin\'onthata-wayscareshim。
"It\'stroothtosayBillan\'Jimcertainlyconductsthemse\'fsscand\'lous。Theepithetstheyheapsonthatporeignorantrattlesnake，thetauntstheyflingsathim，wouldhavedoneApachesproud。
Therattlesnakebuzzesan\'quilsup，an\'onsheathshisfangs，an\'
makesbluffstostrikeBillan\'Jim，buttheyonlyhopsan\'dancesabout，thinkin\'upmoreornerythingstosay。Everytimetherattlesnakegoestocrawlaway——whichhedoesfrequent——hestrikesthecactusthornsan\'pullsback。Byan\'byheseeshe\'selected，an\'hegetsthatenragedheswellsuptillhe\'sbigastwosnakes；
Billan\'Jimmaintainin\'theirsass。ThemRoadRunnersisabreastoftheplayeveryminute，youcanseethat。
"Atlastcomesthefinish，an\'mattersgetsdealtdowntotheturn。
Therattlesnakesuddenlycrookshisneck，he\'ssoplumblocoedwithragean\'fear，an\'sockshisfangsintohimse\'f。That\'sthefact；
biteshimse\'f，an\'neverletsuptillhe\'sdead。
"Itdon\'tseemtoastoundJiman\'Billnonewhentherattlesnake\'sassinateshimse\'fthata-way，an\'Ireckonstheyhasthisyeresooicideinview。Theykeepspesterin\'an\'projectin\'aboutontiltherattlesnakeisplumbdefunct，an\'thentheyemitsawhirlwindofnewwhoops，an\'goesovertoonesidean\'pullsoffaskelpdance。
Jiman\'Billisshorelycel\'bratin\'avic\'try。
"Aftertheskelpdanceisover，Billan\'Jimtiptoesovermightyquietan\'sedate，an\'Jimtakestheirpreybythetailan\'yanksit。
Aftertherattlesnake\'sdrugoutstraight，himan\'Billrunstheireyesalonghimlikethey\'ssizin\'himup。Withthisyerelast，however，it\'scl\'artheRoadRunnersregardsthedealasclosed。
Theysa\'ntersoffdownthetrail，arminarmlike，conversin\'inlowtonessoPeetsan\'meneverdoeshearwhattheysays。Whenthey\'sinwhattheytakestobethec\'rrectp\'sition，theystopsan\'looksbackatmean\'Peets。BillturnstoJimlikehe\'ssayin\':
"\'Thar\'sthemtwoshort-hornsag\'in。Iwondersiftheyeveraimstopulltheirfreight，ordotheyreckonthey\'llpitchcamprightyere？"\'
CHAPTERXXII。
OLDSAMENRIGHT\'S"ROMANCE。"
"Itmebbyis，thatromancescomestopassontherangewhenI\'mthar，"remarkedtheOldCattleman，meditatively，"butifsobe，I
nevernotes\'em。Theyshorelygetsplumbbymeinthenight。"
Theoldgentlemanhadjustthrowndownadailypaper，andevenashespokeIreadontheupturnedpagetheglaringheadline:"RomanceinRealLife。"Hisrecentliteraturewastheevidentcauseofhisreflections。
"Ofcourse，"continuedtheOldCattleman，turningforcomforttohisinevitabletobaccopipe，"ofcourse，atsechepocksassomedegradedsharptakestodealin\'doubleinapokergame，orthekyardsbeginstocometwoataclatteratfaro-bank，theproceedin\'sfrequenttakesonwhatyou-allmightcallahueofromance；an\'Iadmitstheywaslikelytogetsomehectic，myse\'f。ButasIstates，forwhatyou-allwouldbrandasclean。strainromance，Iain\'trecallin\'
none。"
"Howaboutthoseloveaffairsofyouryouth？"Iventured。
"WhichIdon\'tdeny，"repliedtheoldgentleman，betweenpuffs，"thatbackinTennessee，asIonfoldsbefore，Ihasmyflower-
scenteddays。ButIdon\'twednothin\'，asyou-allknows，an\'evenwhileI\'mridin\'an\'ropin\'atthemyoungfemalepersons，thar\'snevernoromancetoit，onlessit\'sinthefactthattheyallescapes。
"Butspeakin\'oflove-tangles，OldManEnrightoncerecountsastory；whichthesameshowshowfemalefancyisrootlessan\'
onstablethata-way。
"\'Allerscopperafemale。\'saysCherokeeHall，oneday，whenTexasThompsonisrelatin\'howhiswifemaltreatshim，an\'roundsupadivorcefromhimdownatLaredo。\'Allersplay\'emtolose。Nell，yere，\'goesonCherokee，asherunshishandoverthecurlsofFaroNell，who\'slookoutforCherokee，\'Nelly，yere，istheonlyoneI
evermeetswhocanbedependedontocomewinnereverytrip。\'
"\'Whichfemales，\'saysOldManEnright，who\'ssettin\'tharatthetime，\'an\'partic\'lar，youngfemales，isaheapfrivolous，nacheral。Arainbowwillstampedemostof\'em。Formyse\'f，I\'dshorelyprefertotryan\'holdabunchoffivehundredponiesonabadnight，thanrideherdontheheartofonelady。Betweengentan\'
gentthata-way，Imore\'nhalffiggerthe\'ffectionsofafemaleismigratory，sameasbuffaloeswasbeforetheywaskilled，an\'sortergoesnorthlikeinthespring，an\'southag\'ininthewinter。\'
"\'Asforme；saysTexasThompson，who\'smoodytouchin\'themdivorceplayshiswifeismakin\'，\'you-allscangambleIpassesallfemalesup。NomatterhowstrongIholds，itlookslikeontheshowdownstheyoutlucksmeeverytime。WhereforeIquits\'emcold，an\'anygentwhowantsmychancewithfemalescanshorelyhavethesame。\'
"\'Oh，Idon\'tknow!\'remarksDocPeets，gettin\'inonwhat\'sageneralplay，\'I\'vebeenallthroughtheherd，an\'ImustsayI
deemswomengoodpeopleeverytime；aheapfinerfolksthanmen，an\'
faithfuller。\'
"\'WhichIdon\'tdenyfemalesisfinefolks，\'saysTexas，\'butwhatI\'mallowin\'is，they\'sfitful。Theydon\'tstaynone。You-allscanhobblean\'sideline\'embothatnight；an\'whenyourollsoutinthemornin\'，they\'sgone。\'
"\'Whatdoyou-allthink，Nell？\'saysDocPeetstoFaroNell，who\'spercheduponherstoolbyCherokee\'sshoulder。\'Whatdoyou-allreckonnowofTexasyere，a-malignin\'ofyoursex？Whydon\'tyoup\'inthimtoDaveTuttan\'TucsonJennie？Whichtheygetsmarried，an\'thartheybe，gettin\'alongaspeacefulastwosix-shootersonthesamebelt。\'
"\'Idon\'tmindwhatTexassays，none，\'repliesFaroNell。\'Texasisallright，an\'onthesquare"。Ishouldn\'twondernoneifthisyereMissisThompsondoessawitoffonhimsomeshabby，gettin\'thatsep\'ration，an\'Idon\'tmarvelathisremarks。ButaslongasCherokeeyerethinksI\'mright，Idon\'tletnobody\'sviewspestermealittlebit，sothar。\'
"\'It\'swhatIsaysawhileback，\'interruptsEnright。\'TexasThompson\'swife\'smotivesmightylikelyain\'tinvidiousnone。It\'saheapprobableifthetroothisknown，thatsheain\'taimin\'nothin\'
speshulatTexas；sheonlychangeshermind。AbouttheearliesteventIremembers，\'goesonEnright，\'isconcernin\'awomanwhochangeshermind。It\'syearsagowhenI\'mayearlin\'。Ourcompanyismakin\'around-upatacampcalledWarwhoopCrossin\'，inTennessee，organizin\'toembarkintheMexicanwarawholelot，an\'thinouttheGreasers。NooneeverdoesknowwhyI，personal，declar\'smyse\'finonthisyereimbroglio。Iain\'tbigger\'nachargeofpowder，an\'
thatlimitedastolaigsIhastoclamberontoalogtomountmypony。
"\'ButasI\'mtellin\'，we-allscomestogetheratWarwhooptomakethestart。Ireckonsnowthar\'sfivehundredpeoplethar。`\'Whichtheoccasion，an\'theinterestthepublictakesinthebusiness，jestcombstheregionoffolksformilesabout。
"\'Thar\'saheapofhand-shakin\'an\'well-wishin\'goin\'on；mothersan\'sisters，an\'sweetheartsiskissin\'usgood-bye；an\'whilethar\'ssomehilaritythar\'smoresobs。It\'snot，asIlooksback\'ard，whatyou-allswouldcallagayaffair。
"\'Whileallthisyerelovean\'tearsisflowin\'，thar\'sagent——he\'sourCaptain——who\'ssettin\'offaloneinhissaddle，an\'ain\'ttakin\'
nohand。Thar\'snosweetheart，nomother，nosisterforhim。
"\'NooneaboutWarwhoopknowsthisyerepartymuch；more\'nhisnameisBent。He\'scaptainwiththeGov\'nor\'scommission，an\'comesfrom\'way-offyondersome\'ers。An\'sohesetsthar，griman\'solidinhissaddle，lookin\'vague-likeoffatwherethetreesmeetsthesky，whiletherestofusisgoin\'aboutpermiscus，finishin\'upourkissin\'。
"\'"Ain\'thegotnosweethearttowishgoodbyetohim？"asksagirlofme。"Ain\'ttharnoonetokisshimforgoodluckasheridesaway？"
"\'Thisyeremaiden\'snameisSanders，an\'it\'sashorefactshe\'stheprettiestyoungfemaletoevermakeamoccasintrackinWestTennessee。I\'da-killedmyponyan\'goneafoottobringsechalookintohereyes，asshinestharwhenshegazesattheCaptainwherehe\'ssilentan\'sol\'taryonhishoss。
"\'No，"Ireplies，"he\'saorphan，Ireckons。He\'splumbabandonedthata-way，an\'sothar\'snobodyyeretokisshim，orshakehishand。"
"\'ThisyereprettySandersgirl——an\'I\'mpausin\'ag\'intostateshe\'sahumansunflower，thata-way——thisSandersbeauty，I\'msayin\'，looksatthispartybyhimse\'fforamoment，an\'thenthebigtearsbeginstowellinherblueeyes。Sheblusheslikeasunset，an\'walksovertothisyerelonegent。
"\'MisterCaptain，"shesays，raisin\'herfacetohimlikearose，"I\'mshoresorryyouain\'tgotnosweethearttosay\'good-bye；\'an\'
bein\'you\'relonesome，thata-way，I\'llkissyouan\'sayadiosmyse\'f。"
"\'Willyou，mylittlelady？"saysthelonesomeCaptain，asheswingsfromhissaddletothegroundbyherside；an\'thar\'ssunshineinhiseyes。
"\'I\'llthinkofyoueverydayforthat，"hesays，whenhekissesher，"an\'ifIgetsbackwhenthewar\'sdone，I\'llshorelylookforyouyere。"
"\'ThelittleSandersgirl——sheisshorelyashandsomeasaacefullonkings——blushesaheapvividatwhatshe\'sdone，an\'lookswarman\'tender。Which，whiletheplayissomeonusualan\'outofline，everybodyagreesit\'sallright；bein\'thatwe-allsisgoin\'toawar，thata-way。
"\'Nowyere，\'goesonEnright，atthesametimecallin\'forred-eyeall\'round，\'iswhatyouallsagreesisamightyromanticdeal。
Yere\'saloveaffairgetslaunched。\'
"\'Doesthisyerelone-handgentwhogetskissedbytheSandersladyoutlivethewar？\'asksTexasThompson，whohasbracedupan\'getsmightyvivaciouslistenin\'tothestory。
"\'Whichheshorelyoutlivesthatconflict，\'repliesEnright。\'An\'
youcangamblehe\'sinthethickofthestampede，too，everytime。I
willsayforthisyereCaptain，thatwhileIain\'twithhimplumbthrough，he\'sasgameasportaseverfoughtuphill。He\'sthesortwhichfightsangoesfor\'ardtohismanatthesametime。Thar\'snowhitefeathersonthatkind；they\'sgameasbadgers。An\'bad。\'
"\'Whichifhedon\'tgetdownednone，\'saysTexasThompson，\'an\'hitsTennesseealive，IofferstentooneheleadsthisyereSandersfemaletothealtar。\'
"\'Whichyou\'dlose，awholelot，\'saysEnright，atthesametimeraisin\'hiswhiskeyglass。
"\'That\'swhatIstateswhenItrailsoutonthisyereromance。
Femalesisfrivolousan\'plumblightoffancy。ThisCaptainpartycomesbacktoWarwhoop，say，it\'stwoyearsan\'ahalflater，an\'
whatdoyou-allsreckon？ThatSandersgirl\'sbeenmarriedmightynightwoyzars，an\'hasaninfantchildasbigasab\'arcub，whichisbeginnin\'tomakeabluffatwalkin。\'
"\'Now，onthesquar\'，an\'I\'mass\'prisedaboutitasyoube——I\'mmore\'ns\'prised，I\'mpained——Idon\'tallow，lookin\'overresultsan\'
recallin\'thefactofthatb\'ar-cubinfantchild，thatforallherblushin\'，an\'allhertears，an\'kissin\'thatCaptainpartygood-bythata-way，thattheSandersgirlcaresahoss-h\'arropeforhiminaweek。An\'itallproveswhatIremarks，thatwhilefemalesain\'tmalev\'lentmalicious，an\'don\'tdotheseyerethingstopierceagentwithgrief，their\'ffectionsisalwayshonin\'forthetrail，an\'isshorelypronetomovecamp。But，bless\'em!theycan\'the\'pitnoneiftheirheartsbequicksands，an\'Ilibatesto\'emag\'in。\'
"Whereatwe-allsdrinkswithEnright；feelin\'aheapsim\'lar。
"\'WhateverbecomesofthisyercporeCaptainparty？\'asksFaroNell。
"\'Well，thefactaboutthatCaptain，\'repliesEnright，settin\'downhisglass，\'whilethesameismereincident，an\'don\'thavenodirectbearin\'onwhatIrelates；thefactinhiscaseishe\'sweddedalready。Nacherallyaftersayin\'"howdy!"tothelittleSandersgirl，an\'applaudin\'ofherprogeny——whichitlookslikehefullyendorsesthata-way——thisyereCaptaingenthitsthetrailforNashville，wherehiswife\'sbeenkeepin\'campan\'waitin\'forhimallthetime。"\'
CHAPTERXXIII。
PINONBILL\'SBLUFF。
"Thisnarrativeiswhatyou-allmightcallsomewidespread，"saidtheOldCattleman，ashebeameduponme，evidentlyinthebestofhumors。"IttellshowPinonBillgetsahossonJackMoore；leavesthecampboggeduptothesaddle-girthsindoubtaboutwhodownsBurke；an\'stakestheDeefWomansoshepullsherfreightfortheStates。
"PinonBillisreckonedahardgame。He\'sonlyinWolfvillenowan\'
then，an\'ain\'tcuttin\'nofiggerinpubliccalc\'lationsmore\'nit\'sregardedassagacioustopackyourgunwhilePinonBill\'sabout。
"No；hedon\'tdownnowhitemennooneeverhearsof，butthar\'sstoriesabouthowhesmugglesfreightan\'plundervariousfromMexico，an\'drivesoffMexicancattle，an\'onceinawhilestretchesaMexicanhimse\'fwhoobjectstothementerprisesofPinonBill\'s；
butthar\'snothin\'insechtalestointerestAmericans，more\'ntohear\'eman\'commenton\'emasplays。
"ButwhilePinonBillneverturnshistalentstoAmerican，themlibertieshetakeswithGreasersgiveshimaheapofbadrepoote，asamightyorneryan\'oneasyperson；an\'mostofussorterkeepstabonhimwheneverhefavorsWolfvillewithhispresence。
"\'ThistimehecollideswithJackMoore，an\'sotospeak，leavesthedrinksonJack，he\'sbeentrackin\'\'roundcampmebbyit\'ssixweeks。
"\'Likewisethar\'sanoldlonghorntheycallsthe\'Major\'；he\'sbeenhangin\'aboutforevenlongeryet。Don\'tgotofiggerin\'onnohostilitiesbetweenthisPinonBillan\'theMajor，fortheirtrailsneverdoescrossonce。Anotherthing\'PinonBillain\'tnacheraliyhostileneither；ain\'twhatyou-allcallstrailin\'trouble；whereastheMajor\'salsoaheaptoodrunktogivewaytowar，bein\'tankedthata-waycontinuous。
"WhichIdon\'treckonthar\'stheslightestdoubtbuttheMajor\'sabiggersotthanOldMonte，thoughthesameisindispoote；CherokeeHallan\'Boggsa-holdin\'heis；an\'DocPeetsan\'Tuttplayin\'theotherend；Enrightan\'JackMoore，ondecided。
"Peetsconfidesinmeofan\'concernin\'theMajorthatthar\'satime——an\'nofurtherupthetrailthanfiveyears——whentheMajorisshore-\'noughaMajor；bein\'quartermasterorsomesechbluffinthearmy。
"ButonedayUncleSamcomesalongan\'wantstocashin；an\'tharthisyerecrazy-hossMajoriswithtentimesasmanychipsoutashe\'sgotbank-rolltomeet，an\'itallfatiguesthegov\'menttothatextenttheMajor\'scashiered，an\'toldtovamosthearmyforgood。
"Iallersallowsit\'swhiskeyan\'kyardsgetstheMajor\'srollthattime。Peetssaysheseeshim\'waybackonceoversome\'ersneartheMohaveDesert——Wingate，mebby——an\'whiskeyan\'pokerhastheMajorroped；onebythehorns，theotherbythehoofs；an\'theyjestthrowshiman\'drughim，an\'drughiman\'throwshim，alternate。TheMajornevershakesloosefromtheloopsofthemvices；nonewhatever。
"An\'that\'smightylikely，jestasIsays，howtheMajorfindshimse\'fcashieredan\'afoot；an\'nothin\'butdisgracetogetridofan\'whiskeytoget，tofillthefuturewith。
"SoitcomeswhenItrailsupontheMajorhe\'sadrunkardcomplete，hangin\'\'roundwithatin-hornan\'ahandfulofdice，tryin\'togetMexicansorChinamentogoag\'in\'emforanysmallthingtheynames。
"It\'sonaccountofthisyeredrunkardtheMajorthattheDeefWomancomesstagin\'itinwithOldMonteoneday。Gotapapoosewithher，theDeefWomanhas，aboycomin\'three，an\'it\'smyfirmbelief，whichthisviewiscommonan\'frequentwithallWolfville，ashowtheDeefWoman\'stheMajor\'swife。
"Itain\'tnocinchplaythatthisfemale\'sdeef，neither；whichit\'sallersplainshehearsthemostfeeblesomeyelpofthatinfant，allthewayfromthedance-halltotheO。K。House，an\'thatmeansacrossthecampcomplete。
"Boggsputsitupshemerelygivesitoutshe\'sdeefthata-waytocutoffdebatewiththecamp，an\'declineallconfidencesgoin\'an\'
comin\'。
"Thar\'snoreasontosaytheDeefWoman\'stheMajor\'swife，more\'nshetumblesintocampasonlookedforasOldMontesober，an\'it\'seasytonoteshes\'prisesan\'dismaystheMajoralot，evendrunkan\'soakedwithnosepaintasheshorelyis。
"TheDeefWomanhasabriefpow-wowwithhimaloneoverattheO。K。
House，followin\'ofwhichtheMajorappearsthewhitiestan\'theshakiestIeverbeholdshim——thelastbein\'somestrongasastatement——an\'afterbeggin\'adrinkattheRedLight，p\'intsoutafootforRedDog，an\'isseennomore。
"WhattheDeefWomansaystotheMajor，orhimtoher；orwhatmakeshimhitthetrailforRedDogthata-waynoonelearns。TheDeefWomanain\'tseemin\'toregardtheMajor\'sjumpin\'theoutfitasnoloss，however。Whereinshe\'splentyaccurate，forthatMajorshorelyain\'tworthropin\'tobrand。
"Afterhe\'sgone——an\'theMajor\'smoccasintrackain\'tneverseeninWolfvillenomore，he\'sgonethatgood——thenextwe-allshearsofthedeal，thisyereDeefWoman\'splayin\'thepianoatthedance-
hall。
"DocPeetsan\'Enright，likewisetherest，don\'tlikethisnonewhatever，forshedon\'tshowdance-hally\'earmarks，an\'ain\'tthedance-hallbrand；butitlookslikethey\'spowerlesstointerfere。
"Peetstriestotalktoher，butsheblushesan\'can\'thearhim；
whileEnrightan\'MissisRucker——whichthelastbein\'afemaleherse\'fisrunginontheplay——don\'twinoutnothin\'more。LookslikealltheDeefWomanwantsistobeletalone，whileshemakesaplaythebestshecanforahome-stake。
"Ipausestomention，however，thatdurin\'theweektheDeefWomanturnshergameatthepiano——forshedon\'tstayonlyaweekastheplayrunsout——shecomesmightynearkillin\'thedance-hallbusiness。ThefactisthiswereDeefWomanplaysthatremarkablesweetnoonedancesatall；jestnacherallysets\'roundhungerin\'forthemmelodies，an\'cadencestothatextenttheyactooallyoverlooksdrinks。
"That\'sright；an\'youcangambleyourdeepestchipwhenfolksbeginstooverlookdrinks，an\'aglassofwhiskeylastsenergeticpeoplehalfanhour，they\'sshorelysomerapt。
"Eventhecoyotescashesinan\'quitstheirhowlswhenevertheDeefWomandrugherchairuptothatpianoan\'throwsloose。An\'themcoyotesafterward，whensheturnsupherboxan\'stopsdealin\'，getsthatbashfulan\'taciturntheyain\'tsayin\'aword；butjestwithholdsallyellsentiretherestofthenight。
"Butthar\'snousetalkin\'hoursabouttheDeefWoman\'smusic。Itonlylastsaweek；evenifWolfvilledoesbragofityet。
"It\'sthisa-way:It\'swhilePinonBillisromancin\'roundthetimeImentions，thatwe-allsrollsoutenourblanketsonemornin\'an\'
picksupapartywhosename\'sBurke。ThisyereBurkeisshotintheback；plumbdead，an\'iscampedwhenwefindshimallcoldan\'stiffoutbackoftheNewYorkstore。
"Thedaybefore，Burke，who\'saminer，diggin\'an\'projectin\'\'roundoverintheFloridas，isincamplayin\'inpowderan\'fuseawholelot，withwhichhemeanstokeeponshootin\'upthehe\'plessbosomsofthehillslikethemlocoedminerpeopledoes。
"Atnighthe\'sdrunk；an\'whilethar\'sgentsasseesBurkeaslate，mebbyit\'stwohoursafterthelastwalseatthedance-hall，thar\'snobodywhoupsan\'impartshowBurkegetsplugged。AllWolfvilleknowsisthatatfirst-drinktimeinthemornin\'，tharthisBurkeisplumbpeteredthata-way。
"An\'theworstfeatureshorelyisthatthebulletgoesinhisback，whichmakesitmurderplain。Tharain\'tamoccasintracktohe\'ptellwhodropsthisyereBurke。Nacrerally，everybody\'sdeeplytakentoknowwhodoesit；forifthar\'sapartyincampwho\'souttoshootwhenyourback\'sturned，findin\'ofhiman\'hangin\'himcan\'tbetoopop\'laran\'needfulasaplay。But，asIremarks，we\'rebaffled，an\'upag\'institabsoloote。NoonehastheleastnotionwhogetsthisyereBurke。It\'smoneyasistheobjectofthemurder，forBurke\'swar-bagsdon\'tdisclosenotasinglecentousewhenthecommitteegoesthrough\'empriortotheobsequies。
"It\'stwodaysthecampistalkin\'overwhodoesthiscrime，whenTexasThompsonbeginstoshedabeamoflight。Thislastwasonlookedfor，an\'tharforeallthemoreinterestin\'。
"TexasThompsonisajedgeofwhiskeysechasanygentmighttieto。
He\'samiddlin\'shotwithaColt\'s。44an\'canprotecthimse\'fatpoker。ButnobodyeverreckonsbeforethatTexascanthink。WhichI
evenyetdeemsthispartic\'lartimeainspiration，inwhicheventTexasThompsondon\'thavetothink。
"It\'soverintheRedLightthesecondafter。noonwhenTexasturnslooseawholelot。
"\'Enright，\'hesays，\'IshorehasapreemonitionthisyereBurkegetspluggedbyPinonBill。\'
"\'Howdoesthekyardsrunsoastodeals\'picionsonPinonBill？\'
saysEnright。
"\'Thisa-way，\'saysTexas，someconfidentan\'cl\'ar；\'somebodydownsBurke；that\'sdeadcertain。Burkedon\'tputthatholeinthemiddleofhisbackhimse\'f；nomatterhowmuchhereckonsitimproveshim。
Then，whenit\'ssomeoneelsewhoisit？Now，\'goesonTexas，asglibaswolves，\'yere\'showIargues:You-alldon\'tdoit；Peetsdon\'tdoit；Boggsdon\'tdoit；thar\'snotoneofuswhodoesit。An\'tharyoubeplumbdowntoPinonBill。Intheverynacherofthedeal，whennooneelsedoesitan\'it\'sdone，PinonBill\'sgottodoit。I
tellsyouasshoreasmyformerwifeatLaredo\'swritin\'insultin\'
letterstomerightnow，thisyerePinonBill\'sthepartywhoshootsupthatminergentBurke。\'
"WhatTexasThompsonsaysmakesanimpression；whichit\'saboutthefirstthoughtfulremarkheevermakes，an\'tharforewe\'repronetogiveitmore\'nusualattention。
"Weimbibesonitan\'talksitupan\'down，mebbyit\'shalfanhour；
an\'themorewedrinksan\'theharderwethinks，thecl\'areritkeepsgettin\'thatmightylikelythisyereTexashasstruckthetrail。AtlastJackMoore，who\'s，asIoftensays，promptan\'
vig\'lantthata-way，linesouttohuntthisyerePinonBill。
"WhyeverdotheycallhimPinonBill？Nothin\'much；onlyoncehecomesintocampdrunkan\'locoed；an\'bein\'inthedarkan\'himhawg-hungry，heb\'ilesakettleofpinon-nuts，a-holdin\'of\'emerroneoustobebeans，an\'assechaimin\'togetsomefoodouten\'emawholelot。Hegoestosleepwhilehe\'spesterin\'with\'em，an\'
whentheotherstumblestohisgameinthemornin\'，he\'sbrandedas\'PinonBill\'evermore。
"WhenJackhopsouttoround-upPinonBill，allhedoesisgointothestreet。ThefirstthinghenotesisthisyerePinonBill\'sponystandin\'saddledoverbytheO。K。House，likeheplanstopullhisfreight。
"\'Whichthatbroncostandin\'thar，\'saysJacktoEnright，\'makesitlooklikeTexascallstheturnwiththemsurmises。\'An\'itshorelydoes。
"ThisponymakesJack\'splayplentysimple；allhedoesnowistosa\'nter\'roundtheponycasooallikean\'layforPinonBill。
"Jack\'stoowellbroughtuptogosurgin\'intoroomslookin\'forPinonBill，whereJack\'seyescomin\'inoutenthesunthata-way，can\'tseeforaminutenohow，an\'wherePinonBillhasadvantages。
It\'sbettertowaitforhimoutside。
"You-allsaveyshowit\'sdoneintheWest。Whenagent\'sneededyouallersopensthegamewithagun-play。
"\'Holdupyourhands!\'saysyou，sorterindicatin\'awholelotatyourpreywithagun。
"Which，bytheway，ifhedon\'tenterintothesperitofthethingpromptan\'p\'inthispawsheavenwardan\'nodelay，you-allmustn\'tfallintonoabstractionsan\'forgettoshootsome。Whenyouobservestoafellow-bein\'thata-way\'Holdupyourhands!\'youmustbepartic\'laran\'seehedoesit。
Whichifyougrowslaxonthisp\'inthe\'smightylikelytoputyourlightoutrightthar。
"An\'jestasJackMooretellsmeoncewhenwe\'reputtin\'insomeleesurehoursan\'whiskeymingled，youdon\'twanttogotooclosetostandupyourgent。OverintheGunnisoncountry，Jacksays，amarshalheknowsgetsinadvertentthata-way，an\'thoughtless，an\'
goesupclose。
"\'Throwupyourhands\'saysthisyeremarshal。
"Histoneshowshe\'sennuied；hehassomanyoftheseyereblazerstorun；that\'swhyhe\'scareless，mebby。Whenthepartythrowsuphishands，heiscarefulanknocksthemarshal\'sgunonesidewithhislefthand，bein\'he\'stoocloseasIsays，atthesametimepullin\'hisownwherewithhethensendsthatmarshaltothehappyhuntin\'groundsinonemotion。BeforeeverthatGunnisonoffishulgetsitoutenhisheadthatthatsport\'sholdin\'uphishands，he\'sreceivin\'noticeonhightohustle\'roundan\'findhisharpan\'
standinontheeternalchorusforallhe\'sworth。
"\'Whichthepublic，\'saysJackMoore，thetimeherelatesaboutthisyereGunnisonmarshalbeinover-playedthattime，\'takesan\'hangsthekillerinaminute。An\'he\'sshorelyabadman。
"\'Doesyou-allwanttopray？"saysoneofthegentswho\'sstringin\'
ofhim。
"\'No，Ed，"hesaysthata-way，"prayin\'sablindtrailtomyeyesan\'Ican\'trunitainch。"
"\'"Whatforaracket，"saysthisyereEd，"woulditbetopickoutasporttoprayforyouawholelot；sorterplayyourhand？"
"\'"That\'sallright，"saysthisculprit。"Nominateyoursharpan\'
tellhimtowadeinan\'rollhisgame。Ireckonsit\'sagoodhedge，an\'alittleprayin\'mebbydoesmegood。"
"\'Tharuponthecommitteeputsfor\'ardagentwho\'sagoodtalker；
butnottakin\'aninterestmuch，hemakesamightyweakorison，thata-way。Thar\'snohodylikesit，fromtheculprit，who\'sstandin\'tharwiththelariat\'roundhisneck，tothelastgentwho\'scomeup。
Thispartyblundersalong，mebbyit\'saminute，whentheculprit，who\'splumbdisgusted，breaksin。
"\'"That\'sahellofapra\'r，"hesays，"an\'Idon\'twantnomoreofitinmine。Gimmeadrinkofwhiskey，gents，an\'swingmeoff。"
"\'Thecommittee，whosesympathiesisallwiththisyerepartywho\'stohang，callsdownthegentaheapwho\'sprayin\'，givestheotherhisfortydrops，an\'cincheshimupsomefreeoftheground；whichthesamebein\'ampleforstrang\'lation。
"\'But，\'concloodsJack，\'whiletheyhangshimallrightan\'proper，thatdon\'tputoffthefuneralofthemarshalnone，whogetscarelessan\'goestooclose。\'An\'youbetJack\'sright。
"Butgoin\'back:AsIremarks，Jackstandsroundloosean\'
indifferentwithhiseyeontheponyofPinonBill\'s，whichitlooksnowlikethisyereBillisawareofJack\'slittlegame。Hecomesoutshore-\'nough，buthe\'sorganized。He\'sgothisguninhishand；an\'
alsohe\'spackin\'theDeefWoman\'syearlin\'infrontofhisbreastan\'face。
"Jackgiveshimtheword，butPinonBillonlylaughs。ThenJackmakesabluffwithhisgunlikehe\'sgoin\'toshootPinonBill，theinfant，an\'allinvolvedtharin。ThisyerelastmoverattlesPinonBill，an\'heupsan\'slamslooseatJack。Butthebaby\'sinhiswayasmuchmebbyasitisinJack\'s，an\'heonlygrazesJack\'sframeawholelot，whichamountstosomebloodan\'nodeepharm。
"\'Downhispony，Jack!\'shoutsDaveTutt，jumpin\'outentheRedLightlikeheaimstogetinonthedeal。
"ButthisyerePinonBillshiftsthecuton\'em。
"\'Ifoneofyou-allssomuchascracksacap，\'hesays，\'Iblowstheheadoffenthisyereblessedchild。\'
"An\'tharuponheshoveshisgunupaginthatbaby\'slefty\'earthata-way，soitshorecurdlesyourblood。Hedoesitasreadilyasifit\'sgrown-upfolks。Itshoresendsachillthroughme；an\'DanBoggsisthat\'fectedheturnsplumbsick。Boggsain\'teatin\'athing，leastwisenothin\'butwhiskey，fortwodaysafterheseesPinonBilldoit。
"\'That\'sonthelevel，\'saysthisPinonBillag\'in——Thefirstvestichofagun-playIwitnesses，orifanygentstartstofollowmeontilI\'mamileaway，I\'llsendthisyearlin\'scoutin\'afterBurke。An\'you-allshearsmesayit。\'
"Tharitis；asquar\'caseofstand-off。Tharain\'tagentwho\'sgametomakeamove。Seein\'weain\'tgotakyardlefttoplay，thisyerePinonBillgrinswidean\'satisfactory，an\'swingsintothesaddle。
"Allthistime——which，afterall，itain\'tsolong——thebabyain\'tsayin\'nothin\'，andtakesthedealinplumbsilence。ButjestasPinonBilllandsinthesaddleitonfurlsayelllikeawrongedpanther。That\'swhatbringstheDeefWomanstampedin\'tothescene。
Shedon\'thearamorselofallthisriotJackan\'Tuttan\'PinonBillkicksup；neverevengetsahintofPinonBill\'ssix-shooter。
Butwiththeearliestsqueakofthatinfantthata-way，youbet!shecomesa-runnin\'。
"Thesecondsheseeswhereherbaby\'sat，upinthesaddlealongwithPinonBill，shemakesaspringforthewholeoutfit。We-allsstandslookin\'on。Tharain\'toneofusdarescrookafinger，forthisPinonBilliscoolan\'ca\'mplumbthrough。He\'sstillgotthedroponthekid，whilehe\'sholdin\'babyan\'bridlebothwiththeotherarman\'hand。HissharpeyesisontheDeefWoman，too。
"Shesprings，butshenevermakesit。PinonBilljumpshisponysidewaysoutofherreach，an\'atthattheDeefWomanc\'lapsesonherfacean\'shoulderinadeadswoon。
"\'Adios!\'saysPinonBill，totherestofus，backin\'an\'sidlin\'
hisponyupthestreetsohedon\'tlosesightoftheplay。\'Tenminutesfromnowyou-allsfindsthisyereinfantamilefromcampassafean\'solidasasodhouse。\'
"\'Bill，\'saysEnright，allatonce，\'Imakesyouaprop\'sition。
Restorethebabytome，an\'tharain\'tagentincampwhofollowsyouafoot。IgivesyouthewordofWolfville。\'
"\'Doesthatgo？\'demandsPinonBill，turnintoJack，who\'sshakin\'
thebloodoffenhisfingerswhereitrunsdownhisarm。
"\'Itgoes，\'saysJack；\'goeswhereverEnrightsetsit。Imakesgoodhisbluffsatalltimesonfootorinthestirrups。\'
"\'An\'Itakesyourpromise，\'saysPinonBillwithalaugh，\'an\'
yere\'sthebaby。WhichnowI\'mgoin\'，Idon\'tmindconfidin\'inyou-
alls，\'goesonthisPinonBill，\'thatIneverintendstohurtthatinfantnohow。\'
"Enrightgetsthechild，an\'innotimelaterthatPinonBillisfledfromsight。Youcanbelieveit；ittakesaloadoffenthepublicmindaboutthatinfantwhenthekyardscomesthata-way。
"Whichthestory\'ssoontoldnow。It\'sthreedayslater，an\'，seein\'
it\'srefreshedinourthoughts，Enrightan\'therestofusisresoomedop\'rationstouchin\'thisDeefWoman，aboutgettin\'heroutencamp，an\'she\'sbeginnin\'torecoverherobduracyaboutnotsayin\'orhearin\'nothin\'，whenincomesapackagebyOldMontean\'
thestage。It\'sforEnrightfromthathoss。thief，PinonBill。
Thar\'saletteran\'
Sooforthebaby。
"\'TellthatDecfWoman，\'saysthisyerePinonBill，\'thatIhasaneventhousanddollarsinmywar-bags，whenIstacksinheroffspringag\'instthecamptowin；an\'Ideemsitonlysquar\'todividethepotwiththebaby。Thekidan\'me\'spartnersintheplaythata-way，an\'theenclosedisthekid\'sshare。Sawthisyeredinerooffonhersomehow；an\'makeherpullherfreight。Wolfville\'snogoodplacetoraisethatbaby。\'
"\'WhichthisPinonBillain\'tsobadneither，\'saysDanBoggs，whenhehearsit。\'Gents，Iproposesthehealthofthisoutlaw。Barkeep，seewhattheytakesinbehalfofPinonBill。\'
"Theletteran\'themoney\'sdeadstraight，an\'theDeefWomancan\'tdodgeorgo\'round。AllofwhichMissisRuckertakesadayoffan\'
beatsitintoherbymakin\'signs。It\'sliketwoInjunstalkin\'。ItallwindsupbytheDeefWomanp\'intin\'outonherwaysome\'ersEast，an\'tharain\'toneofuseverseestheMajor，theDeefWoman，thekid，noryetthisPinonBill，nomore。Whichthislast，however，isnotregardedasfoodfordeepregrets，"
CHAPTERXXIV。
CRAWFISHJIM。
"Don\'tInevertellyouthestoryofthedeathofCrawfishJim？"
TheOldCattlemanbentuponmeaneyeofbenevolentinquiry。I
assuredhimthatthedetailsofthetakingoffofCrawfishJimwereasasealedbooktome。ButIwouldblithelylisten。
"WhatwasthefateofCrawfishJim？"Iasked。Thenameseemedapromiseinitself。
"Nothin\'muchforafate，Crawfish\'sain\'t，"rejoinedtheOldCattleman。"Nothin\'whatevercomparedtosomefatesIkeepstabsonto。Itwasthisa-way:CrawfishJimwasasheep-man，an\'hasacampoutinthefoothillsoftheTresHermanas，mebbyit\'sthirtymilesbackfromWolfville。ThisyereCrawfishJimwasapecooliarperson；plumblocoed，likeallsheep-men。Theyhastobecrazyortheywouldn\'tpester\'roundinnosechdisrepootablepursootsassheep。
You-allhasseentheseyeregentsasmakespetsofsnakes。Mebbyit\'sonceinathousandtimesyoucutsthetrailofsechaparty。
Snakesiskittenstohim，an\'he\'slikelytobepackin\'specimens\'roundinhisclothesanytime。
"That\'sthewaywiththisCrawfishJim。Imindstalkin\'tohimathiscamponedaywhenI\'mhuntin\'abunchofcattle。ThefirstI
notes，snakestickshisheadoutenCrawfish\'sshirt，an\'looksatmemalev\'lentanddistrustful。AnotherprotroodsitsnoseoutupbyCrawfish\'scollar。
"\'Whichyoushoreseemsha\'ntedofsnakes？\'Isays，steppin\'backan\'p\'intin\'atthereptiles。
"\'Them\'smydumbcompanions，\'saysCrawfishJim。\'Theysharesmysolitood。\'
"\'You-alldoseemsomepop\'larwith\'em，\'Iobserves，forIsaveysatoncehe\'splumboffhismentalreservation；an\'whenaparty\'slocoedthata-wayitmakeshimhostileifyouderideshislittlegameorbuckshisnotions。
"ItakesgrubwithCrawfishthatsameday；goodchuck，too；mainlysheep-meat，salt-hoss，an\'bakin\'-powderbiscuit。Iwatcheshimsomenarrowaboutthemsnakeshe\'sinfestedwith；Iloathin\'of\'em，an\'
notwantin\'\'emtotransfernolovetome，nortaketoenlivenin\'mysecloosionnone。
"Well，son，thisyereCrwafishJimisasadenofserpents。I
reckonsnowhehasaplumbdozenmowedawayinhisraiment。Thar\'snoharmin\'em；bein\'allbull-snakes，whichisinnocuousan\'
withoutp\'ison，fangs，orconvictions。
"WhenCrawfishgoestocook，hedumpsthesefolksoatenhisclothes，an\'lets\'emhustlean\'play\'roundwhilegrub\'sgettin\'。
"\'Theseyerelittleanimals，\'hesays，\'likestheirreecreationssameashumans，soIallersgives\'emaplay-spellwhileI\'mbusyroundcamp。\'
\'"Don\'ttheyeverstampedeoffnone？\'Iasks。
"\'Shorelynot，\'saysCrawfish。\'Bull-snakesisthemostdomesticalsnaketharis。IfI\'dleaveoneoftheseyeretendercreaturesereovernighthe\'ddieofhomesickness。\'
"WhenCrawfishgetsreadytobilethecoffee，hetumblesthebiggestbullsnakeI\'dseenyetoutenthecoffee-potontothegrass。Thenhefillsthekettlewithwater，dumpsinthecoffee，an\'setsheronthecoalstostew。
"\'Thisyerepartic\'larsnake，\'saysCrawfish，\'whichIcallshimJuliusCaesar，istoobigtotote\'roundinmyshirt，an\'sohelivesinthecoffee-potwhileI\'maway，an\'keepscampforme。\'
"\'Don\'tyouyearnfornorattlesnakestofondle？\'Iinquires，jesttoseewhatkyardhe\'dplay。
"\'No，\'hesays，\'rattlesnakesisallright——good，sociable，moralsnakesenough；butinasperitofhumortheymaybiteyouorsomeplaylikethat，an\'tharyou\'dbe。No；bull-snakesisas\'fectionateasrattles，an\'don\'truntop\'ison。Youdon\'thavenoinadvertencieswith\'em。\'
"\'Can\'tyoubustthefangsoutenrattlesnakes？\'Iasks。
"\'Theygrowsrightinag\'in，\'saysCrawfish，sameasyourfinger-
nails。Iain\'tgotnotimetogoscoutin\'arattlesnake\'smoutheveryday，lookin\'upteeth，soIdon\'tworrywith\'em，butplaysbull-snakesstraight。Thisbein\'dentistforrattlesnakeshasresks，whichthesamewouldbefoolishtoassoom。\'
"Whilegrub\'scookin\'an\'Crawfishan\'me\'spow-wowin\'，alittleolddogCrawfishhas——oneofthemno-accountnce-dogs——comesupan\'
makesasmalluprisin\'offtoonesidewithJuliusCaesar。Thedogyelpsan\'snaps，an\'JuliusCaesarblowsan\'strikesathim，sameasarattle。snake。However，theyain\'tdoin\'noharm，an\'Crawfishdon\'tpaynoheed。
"\'They\'srunnin\'blazersoneachother，\'saysCrawfish，\'an\'don\'tmeannothin\'。BimebyCaribouPete——whichthesameisthedog——willgoliedownan\'sleep；an\'JuliusCaesarwillquileupag\'inhimtobewarm。Caribou，bein\'adogthata-way，isawarm-bloodanimal，whileporeJuliushasgotcoldbloodlikeafish。Sohegoesoveran\'campsonCaribou，an\'allthesameputshisfeetonhimfortobecomfortable。\'
"Ofcourse，I\'maheapinterestedinthisyeresnakeknowledge，an\'
tellsCrawfishso。Butitsortercoppersmyappetite，an\'Crawfishsavesonsheep-meatan\'sow-bellybyhisdiscoursepowerful。
Thinkin\'an\'a-lookin\'atthemblessedsnakes，speshulatJuliusCmsar，Ishoreain\'thungrymuch。Butasyousays:howaboutCrawfishJimgettin\'killed？
"OnedayCrawfishallowsallalonebyhimse\'fhe\'llhopintoWolfvillean\'buysomestuffforhiscamp，——flour，whiskey，tobacker，air-tights，an\'sech。
"What\'sair-tights？WhichyouEasternshorthornsisshoreignorant。
Air-tightsiscanpeaches，cantomatters，an\'sim\'larbluffs。
"AsIwassayin\'，alongcomesporeoldCrawfishovertoWolfville；
ridesinonaburro。That\'sright，son；comesloafin\'alongonaburrolikeaMexican。Theseyeresheep-menisthatabandonedan\'
vulgartheyain\'tgotpridetorideahoss。
"AlongcomesCrawfishonaburro，an\'it\'shisfirstvisittoWolfville。YeretoforetheoldCimmarongoesovertoRedDogforhisplunder，thesamebein\'abustedlow-downcampontheLordsburgtrail，whichonceholdsit\'sarivaltoWolfville。Itain\'t，however；thesamenotbein\'ofthesameimportance，commercial，asaprairie-dogtown。
"Thistime，however，CrawfishpintsupforWolfville。An\'tomakehimse\'floved，Ireckons，whateverdoeshedobutbringalongJuliusCaesar。
"Idon\'treckonnowheeverplaysJuliusCaesarnoneonRedDog。
Mightylikelythisyerewasthebull-snake\'sfirstengagement。I
clingstothisnotionthatRedDogneverseesJuliusCaesar；forifshehad，themdrunkardswhichinhabitssaidcampwouldn\'thavequityellin\'yet。WhichJuliusCaesar，withthatRedDogwhiskeytheywassoakedin，wouldhaveshoregiven\'emsomemightyheenousvisions。
Factis，CrawfishtoldJackMoorelaterhenevertakesJuliusCaesarnowherebefore。
"ButallthesameCrawfishprancesintocamponthisyereoccasionwithJuliusbushwacked\'way\'roundbackinhisshirt，an\'sechvacantspacesabouthispersonasain\'totherwiseoccupieda-
nourishin\'ofminorbull-snakesplentyprofuse。
"Ofcoursethemsnakesisallholdin\'back，bein\'，afterall，timidcattle；an\'sononeofuss\'spectsCrawfishispackin\'anysechs\'prises。NoneoftheboysabouttownknowsofCrawfishhavin\'thisbull-snakehabitbutme，nohow。Sotheoldmanstampedes\'roundan\'
buyswhathe\'safter，an\'allgoeswell。Nobodyain\'tevendreamin\'
ofreptiles。
"AtlastCrawfish，havin\'turnedhislittlegameforflour，air-
tights，an\'jig-juice，asIsays，getsintotheRedLight，an\'
bracesupag\'inthebaran\'callsfornose-paintall\'round。Thisyereisproperan\'p\'lite，an\'everybodywithinhearin\'oftheyelllinesup。
"It\'satthiscrisisCrawfishJimstartsintomakehimse\'fageneralfav\'ritc。Everybody\'ssloppedouthisperfoomcry，an\'DanBoggsisjestsayin\':\'Yere\'slookin\'atyou，Crawfish，\'whenthatcrazy-bossshepherdsorterswarms\'roundinsidehisshirtwithhishand，an\'lugsoutJuliusCesarbethescruffofhisneck，a-
squirmin\'an\'a-blowin\'，an\'madder\'nadrunkensquaw。OncehegetsJuliusout，hespreadshim\'roundprofuseontheRedLightbaran\'
sorterherdshimwithhishandtokeephimfromchargin\'offamongthebottles。
"\'Gents，\'saysthislocoedCrawfish，\'Iain\'tnoboaster，butI
offersahundredtofifty，an\'standstomakeituptoathousanddollarsinwoolorsheep，JuliusCaesaristhefattestan\'finestserpentinArizona；alsothebestbehaved。\'
"Tharain\'tnoonetakin\'Crawfish\'sbet。ThemomentheslamsJuliusonthebar，more\'ntenofourleadin\'citizensfallstothefloorinfits，an\'emergesoutenonepar\'xysmonlytoslumpintoanother。
Whichweshorelyhasageneralround-upofallsortsofspells。
"\'Whatever\'sthematterofyou-allpeople？\'saysCrawfish，lookin\'
mightyaghast。\'Thar\'snomoreharminJuliusCaesarthanifhe\'safullblownrose。\'
"JackMoore，bein\'marshal，ofcoursestandshishand。It\'shisoffishuldootytoplayapathandonbull-snakesan\'dangerinallan\'anyforms。An\'Jackdoesit。
"WhileCrawfishisbusyrecountin\'theattainmentsofJuliusCaesar，a-holdin\'ofhispetwithonehand，JackMooretakesasnapshotathimalongthebarwithhissix-shooter，an\'awaygoesJuliusCaesar\'sheadlikeapuffofsmoke。ThenMooreroundsupCrawfish，an\'，perceivin\'oftheotherbull-snakes，hesearches\'emoutonebyonean\'massacres\'em。
"\'CalloverDocPeets，\'saysJackMoorefinal，\'an\'bringBoggsan\'
Tuttan\'therestoftheseyereinvalidsto。\'
"DocPeetsan\'EnrightbothtrailsinonthelopefromtheNewYorkStore。TheyhearsMoore\'sgun-playan\'iscur\'ous，nacheral\'nough，toknowwhocallsit。Well，theyturnsinan\'bringstheotherinhabitantsoutentheirfits；pendin\'whichMoorekillsoffthelastremainin\'bull-snakeinCrawfish\'sherd。
"Son，I\'veseenpeoplemad，an\'I\'veseen\'emgay，an\'I\'veseen\'embitbygrief。ButI\'myeretoremarkIneverrunsuponagentwhogoesplumbmadwithsadnessontilIseesCrawfishthatdayJackMooreimmolateshisbull-snakepets。Hestandsthar，white，an\'
ain\'tsayin\'aword。Looksforaminutelikehecan\'tmove。Crawfishdon\'tpacknogun，orIallersallowedwe\'dhadnoticeofhimsome，whilethembullsnakesiscashin\'in。
"Butatlasthesortercomesto，an\'walksoutwithoutsayin\'
nothin\'。Theyain\'tnoneofusregardin\'ofhimmuchatthetime；
bein\'busydrinkin\'an\'recoverin\'fromtheshock。
"Now，whatdoyous\'posethisoldNavajodoes？LopesstraightovertotheNewYorkStore——isca\'masaJunedayaboutit，too——an\'getsasix-shooter。
"ThenextinformationwegetsofCrawfish，\'bang!\'goeshisnewgun，an\'thebulletcutsalongoverJackMoore\'sheadtoohighforresults。Newgunthata-way，an\'Crawfishnotuponhispractice；ofcourseheovershoots。
"Well，theporeoldmurdererneverdoesgetasecondcrack。I
reckonseightpeoplehehasinterestedshootsallatonce，an\'
CrawfishJimquitsthisearthlydealunanimous。Hestopseverybullet；eightof\'em，likeIsays。
"\'Tharain\'tamanofuswhodon\'tfeelregrets；butwhat\'stheuse？
Tharwebe，upag\'instthedeal，withCrawfishcleanlocoed。It\'stheonlywagon-trackout。
"\'Ishorehopeshe\'sonthehottrailofthembull-snakesofhis\'n，\'
saysDanBoggs，aswelaysCrawfishoutonamonte-table。\'Seemslikehethoughtmonstrouswellof\'em，an\'itwouldmightylikelypleasehimtorunupon\'emwherehe\'sgone。\'
"Whateverdidwedo？Why，wedigsagraveoutbackofthedance-hallan\'plantsCrawfishan\'hispetstharin。
"\'Ireckonswebetterburythemreptiles，too，\'saysDocPeets，aswegetsCrawfishstretchedoutallcomfortableinthebottom。\'Ifhe\'slookin\'downontheseyereceremoniesit\'llmakehimfeeleasier。\'
"DocPeetsismightysentimentalan\'romanticthata-way，an\'allersthinksofthetouchin\'thingstodo，whichImore\'noncenoticeslikewise，thatagentbein\'deadthata-wayallersbringsoutthesoftsideofPeets\'snacher。Youbet!he\'splumbsympathetic。
"Wecountsinthesnakes。Thar\'s\'levenof\'embesidesJuliusCaesar；whichwelayshimonCrawfish\'sbreast。Youcanfindthegraveto-day。
"Shore!westicksupaheadboard。Itsaysonit，thesamebein\'
furnishedbyDocPeets——an\'IwantstosayDocPeetsisthebesteddicatedgentinArizona-asfollowsSACREDTOTHEMEMORYOF
CRAWFISHJIM，JULIUSCAESAR
AND
ELEVENOTHERBULLSNAKES，THEYMEANTWELL，BUTTHEYMISUNDERSTOODEXISTENCE
ANDDIED。
THISBOARDWASREAREDBYAN
ADMIRINGCIRELEOFFRIENDS
WHOWASWITHDECEASED
TOTHELAST。
"An\'don\'tyou-allknow，son，thisyereonfortunateweedin\'outofporeCrawfishthata-way，sortersettlesdownonthecampan\'preysonusformightylikelyit\'saweek。Itshorelyisasourceofgloom。Moreover，itdonegivesDanBoggsthefan-tods。AsIrelatesprior，Boggsisemotionalawholelot，an\'oncelethimgetwhatyou-allcallsashock——same，forinstance，asthembull-snakes——itsshoreduetosetBoggs\'sintellectstomillin\'。An\'that\'swhathappensnow。We-allsdon\'tgetBoggs；beddeddownnonefortendays，hisvisionsisthatacoote。
"\'Whichofcourse，\'saysBoggs，whilewe-allssettin\'upadministerin\'thingstohim，\'whichofcourseI\'mplumbawaretheseyereismereilloosions；butallthesame，ascl\'araseverInotesanace，nomatterwhereIlooksat，IdiscernsthatJuliusCaesarserpenta-regardin\'mereproachfuloutentheatmospher。An\'gents，sechspectaclesletsmeoutaheapeverytime。You-allscangamble，Iain\'tslumberin\'nonewithnosnake-spookthata-waya-gyardin\'ofmydreams。\'
"That\'salltharistothedeathofCrawfishJim。Tharain\'tnoharminhim，noryet，Ireckons，inJuliusCaesaran\'therestofCrawfish\'sfam\'ly。ButthewaytheygetstangledupwithWolfville，an\'takestorunnin\'countertopublicsentimentan\'themeightsix-
shooters，Crawfishan\'hislive-stockhastogo。"
